AFRICA
ULTRA-PROMINENCES

84 Mountains with
prominence of 1,500m (4,921 ft.) or greater

Welcome to the first-ever listing of Africa's major mountains based on
prominence.

Intensive map and computer data analysis has revealed 84 summits on the continent and
neighboring islands. This page attempts names, best-available
elevation data, and prominence information for the set of summits.

The following listing has been sorted by country for ease of
reference. Click here to see the same listing
organized by prominence value.

The total ultra-prominence count for the
continent is:

5,885m

1

4,000-5,000m

0

3,000-4,000m

9

2,000-3,000m

22

1,500-2,000m

52

Global
notes:

Rank: The ranking
in the left column represents the overall prominence rank among the 84
summits on the list and map.Peak names: Names are
believed to be accurate based on government topographic surveys.
The name of the individual peak generally precedes the name of a
massif,
range or island, although the larger geographical name may be in more
common
usage. The authors have been thus far unable to ascertain peak
names for
several summits [given in brackets] in Ethiopia and Congo.
Assistance
would be appreciated.Elevation: Is taken from
a variety of sources as noted in the footnotes. There are dozens
of examples of widely different elevations ascribed to the same
peak. For the most part the authors have used their best judgment
when comparing 1. modern topographic surveys, 2. Soviet mapping, 3.
shuttle (SRTM) elevation data, and 4. other elevations found on
commercial mapping and internet sources. Anyone able to provide
access to more recent survey data, or who seeks clarification are
welcome
to contact the authors.Saddle: Saddles are
derived exclusively from analysis of SRTM. Few
printed map resources (1:50,000 or smaller) prove to be of greater
accuracy. SRTM
saddles should be considered accurate to ±30m. in areas of high
relief, and very accurate in areas of low relief. There
needs to be a slight adjustment to the older datum, but this is dwarfed
by
the standard deviation in the error range.Lat and Long: Are taken
from SRTM anaylsis and should be considered accurate to ± 15
seconds.
Other footnotes and links follow this list.
minor revisions: December 3, 2011

[Congo] For this first draft, the authors were
unable to ascertain
accurate toponymy (names) and survey elevations for the three mountain
summits in Eastern Congo. The names Kabobo and Wuhevi have been
tentatively assigned to the massifs, pending further
clarification. Elevations for these two summits are estimated
from SRTM data, and are likely more accurate than any pre-existing
survey. Two additional summits, "Marungu" and the better-known
Volcan Nyiragongo, barely miss the 1,500 meter cutoff and may be
included on future lists.

[Eritrea and Ethiopia] Great
discrepancies were found between
survey elevations and SRTM data. An attempt has been made
here to reconcile them, but this should be considered
provisional. Peaks footnoted with a [TS] employ elevations from
topographic surveys. We used the Soviet 1:100,000 and 1:200,000
maps. We strongly suspect that these spot elevations are from
1930s era surveys, and are obsolete. Where the topographic
survey and the SRTM data were in agreement within the normal error
bound, we chose the topographic survey elevation. Where there is
wide disagreement we chose the SRTM data, marked with [SR].
The high point of Ethiopia, Ras Dashen is in wide
disagreement (see below). Several mountains are not named
on the Soviet maps, in GNIS, or on
commercial map publications. We have given them provisional
names, denoted in [brackets]. Assistance would be appreciated.

[Somalia] The HP of Somalia, Shimbiris,
appears to narrowly miss the cutoff of 1500m but may be on future
listings. 2,416m is a widely quoted elevation, however SRTM
suggests
the high point is closer to 2,460m. The SRTM value would give
Shimbiris a prominence of ±1,495m.

[Sudan] Spot elevations still in use today
are from 1920s ground surveys. In spite of that, SRTM largely
concurs.

[Tanzania] On this first draft, elevations
were mostly taken from Soviet mapping, as the Tanzania 1:50,000
topographic series mostly neglects spot elevations. Exceptions
are
Kilimanjaro, Loolmalassin, and Karenga. SRTM and
the Tanzania/Soviet mapping generally concur very well. Sungwi
is taken from the SRTM analysis, as it diverges significantly from the
Tanzania Survey (2271m-2286m).

[1] Kilimanjaro:
As the highpoint of Africa, Kilimanjaro's key saddle is the low point
that separates Africa from Eurasia. The elevation of the Suez
Canal cut is
functionally
zero. A low point of 10m immediately to the west of the canal is
assumed to have been the original KS.

[2] Ras Dejen, Ethiopia: There is a
high-divergence of
published elevations for Ras Dejen (also spelled Ras Deshen or Ras
Dashen). An Italian military survey measured it at 4620m, a height that is still often quoted. A new elevation of
4,533m emerged from a 1970s triangulation survey. a subsequent Franco-Italian survey established a height of 4,550m.

[3]
Mont Cameroon: The true elevation of Mont
Cameroon remains a minor mystery. The most frequently cited
elevation
is 4095.1m, which appears on all of the more recent I.G.N topographic
maps. Other cited values are 4100m and 4070m. SRTM suggests
the
elevation is much lower; the highest 3" cell is 4024m.
Communication
with earth-scientists suggests that a new survey is needed, especially
given the frequent volcanic activity. We have tentatively adopted
4070m as the most plausible published elevation.

[11] Emi Koussi, Chad: The official
elevation that appears on the IGN series is 3,415 meters. SRTM
suggests that the peak
is slightly higher, with a highest cell of 3,435m indicating an elevation
of approximately 3,445m.

[14] Tullu Deemtu, Ethiopia: This is usually quoted as 4,377m, but SRTM data shows it to be slightly higher. It is higher than a nearby peak known as "Batu". .

[18] Jebel Katarina (or Katharina), Egypt:
This peak also appears on the Middle East
list with footnotes.

[46] Jebel Sha'ib al Banat, Egypt:
Elevation unconfirmed.[64] Bada or K'ech'a
Terara, Ethiopia: Printed maps (Soviet, Ethiopian, and US
Tactical
Pilotage Charts) all show K'ech'a as higher (likely from the same
survey.) SRTM suggests Bada may be higher. Soviet maps give
Bada
4,170m and K'ech'a 4,245m. The highest SRTM cells were 4,195m and
4,182m respectively, making it too close to call without further
investigation.

[69] Pic Toussidé, Chad:
3315m elevation is from
more recent IGN map. Earlier IGN maps have survey elevation of
3265m, which is still widely used today on commercial maps, and should
probably be disregarded. SRTM concurs with newer elevation.

[73] Dubbai, Ethiopia: Huge divergence
between printed maps (3,950m) and SRTM (4,041m), suggesting that
original survey may have missed the high point.